Who is Shylock?
Q: Who is Shylock?
A: Shylock is a key character and the antagonist in Shakespeare's 1596 or 1597 play The Merchant of Venice. He is a Jewish moneylender.
Q: What was the bond between Antonio and Shylock?
A: The bond between Antonio and Shylock required Antonio to give a pound of his flesh next his heart should the money not be repaid on a certain date.
Q: Why did Shylock demand his pound of flesh?
A: Shylock demanded his pound of flesh because Antonio had previously insulted and spat on him in the Rialto (the commercial centre of Venice).
Q: What happened to Shylock when he failed in court?
A: When Shylock failed in court, he was charged with attempted murder and forced to give half of his properties to the country and the other half to Antonio, as well as convert to Christianity.
Q: What is the famous speech beginning "Hath not a Jew eyes?"
A: The famous speech beginning "Hath not a Jew eyes?" is spoken by Shylock during The Merchant of Venice. It questions why Jews should be treated differently from other people.
Q: Why were no Jews legally present in England during Shakespeare's time?
A: No Jews had been legally present in England for several hundred years since Edward I's Edict of Expulsion in 1290.
Q: Why did Jews often become money lenders historically?
A: Historically, money lending had been a fairly common occupation among Jews, perhaps because Christians were not allowed to practise usury.
